Installing DOSSBOSS v2.5 ========================== *********************************************************** * This file contains VERY IMPORTANT information on * * upgrading previous versions of DOSSBOSS * *********************************************************** 1. General Installation Information =================================== DOSSBOSS must be installed in a subdirectory. It may not be installed in the root directory of a drive. Although DOSSBOSS will create the subdirectory if it does not yet exist, the path leading up to the where you want the subdirectory must already exist. For example, if you want to install DOSSBOSS into the directory C:\PROGRAMS\DOSSBOSS, then the directory C:\PROGRAMS should already exist. Now to install DOSSBOSS, simply switch to the drive and directory containing all the original DOSSBOSS files and run the install program by entering the following at the DOS prompt: INSTALL The install program will prompt you for all necessary information (such as the drive & directory path where you want to install DOSSBOSS). It will also check if old DOSSBOSS files already exist there. If old files exist you will be prompted for each file whether you want to replace it. This allows you to replace individual files at a later date if for some reason one or more of them becomes unusable. Old stack files (DB_STACK.DAT) and to-do-list files (DB_TODO.DAT) will not be replaced. If you need to replace them you should first erase the old ones. Once you have installed or upgraded DOSSBOSS, you may run the program by entering the following command from the directory where you installed the program: BOSS This will run the BOSS.BAT file. DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS FILE!! Before running DOSSBOSS, it is recommended to set (or add) the FILES command in your CONFIG.SYS file to at least 15 files (e.g. FILES=15 ). In addition it may be helpful to read the file MUSTREAD.ME! before running DOSSBOSS or when first entering DOSSBOSS. It provides some basic information for finding your way around the DOSSBOSS windows and menus! In addition, if you want to know what changes have occurred since your earlier version, check out the end of the DOSSBOSS manual. 2. Important Information for Users of Previous Versions of DOSSBOSS. ==================================================================== 2.1 Two Choices When Upgrading ------------------------------ If you are upgrading from an earlier version, you have 2 choices: 1. simply upgrade your version of DOSSBOSS in the directory where you previously installed DOSSBOSS. 2. install version 2.2 in a new directory to check it out first before updating your previous version. The latter option (#2) is highly recommended if you are a registered user of a previous version. This is because when you update to a new version of DOSSBOSS you become an unregistered user again until you re-register (at the reduced upgrade price) and get a new registration id number (your old one won't work anymore)! Therefore if you simply go and update your previous version before getting your new registration id number, you will again be subjected to all the limitations that the unregistered version of DOSSBOSS places on you (such as: DOSSBOSS will not read in more than 14 of your pages, only 3 of your jobs and 3 to-do list items!). In addition, because you are once again unregistered you will again be subject to the information screen popping up occassionally. Therefore it is best to install this new version in a totally separate directory (select the FULL installation, not the upgrade installation). Then try it out and if you like what you see, register the new version by filling in the form in the REGISTER.FRM file and mailing it in. Then keep using your old version until you receive your new registration id number in the mail. At that time you can upgrade by installing DOSSBOSS into the same directory where your previous version is located. This is done by selecting the upgrade installation. By selecting the upgrade installation, only the main DOSSBOSS program file (DB_MAIN.EXE), the document files (DOSSBOSS.DOC, REGISTER.FRM and MUSTREAD.ME!) and new batch and intialization files (BOSS.BAT, BOSSX.BAT and DB_INIT1.DAT) will be updated. If you want to replace any of the other files, you must select the FULL installation. Then you will be asked separately for each file whether or not you want to replace (if existing copies of the files are found). Just be careful not to accidentally replace your tool, page and job data files (DB_TOOLS.DAT, DB_PAGES.DAT and DB_JOBS.DAT)! 2.2 System Tools Replaced When Upgrading ---------------------------------------- If you performed an upgrade when installing version 2.2 and kept your tool file(s) from a prior version, the first time DOSSBOSS opens the tool file, it will update it to make it compatible with version 2.2. In doing so, all the system tools will be replaced! Therefore if you had edited any system tools, you will have to go back and make the changes again. 2.3 Number of Screen Rows & Upgrading ------------------------------------- If you have your DOSSBOSS display set to 43 or 50 rows and you do an upgrade, the FIRST command you should run when you start DOSSBOSS again is the 'Row' command found under the 'System' menu to set your row value back to what it was. This will avoid the possible loss of any tool references on your pages! 3. Note for Monochrome Systems ============================== Although DOSSBOSS works with monochrome monitors; it does not distinguish between a monochrome monitor that is capable of displaying multiple shades of gray and one that is a true monochrome (such as a Hercules monitor). If you have a grayscale monitor you may actually want to answer 'Yes' when the install program asks whether the display is in color! This may yield better results than answering 'no'. (If not, you can switch the mode or fiddle with the color settings using the 'Color' command found under the 'System' main menu option - See description of this command in the manual. This may help distinguish the various parts of the display e.g. to distinguish the active window from the non-active windows, etc. Adjusting the contrast and brightness controls may also help distinguish the different display areas).